SEMIPALMATED RING PLOVER. 25 



have been observed on the shores of the Cumberland, in 

 Tennessee, by the 9th of September. 



The Semipalmated Ring Plover, though so well suited for 

 an almost aquatic life, feeds on land as well as marine insects, 

 collecting weavels, and other kinds, and very assiduously 

 coursing the strand at low water. In general, when not 

 too eagerly hunted, they are but little suspicious, and may 

 readily be approached by the fowler, as well as detained 

 sometimes by whistling in imitation of their quailing call. 

 On most occasions, and when flushed, they utter a reiter- 

 ated, sharp, twittering and wild note, very much in unison 

 with the ceaseless echoes of the breaking surge, and the 

 lashing of the waves, near which they almost perpetually 

 course, gliding and running with great agility before the 

 retiring or advancing waters. This species is commonly 

 fat and well flavored, and in early autumn, not uncommon 

 in the markets of Boston and New York. 



The American Ring Plover is about 8 inches in length, and 14 

 in alar extent. Front and chin white, the same color encircling the 

 neck ; a narrowish ring around the upper part of the breast, black ; 

 becoming broader at the sides ; all below white. Fore part of the 

 crown black ; a band of the same color extending from the upper 

 mandible, and covering the auriculars. Back, scapulars, and wing- 

 coverts of a brownish ash-color. Primaries, dusky, marked with a 

 line of white along the centre of the shafts, the inner webs nearly 

 white. Tail, olive, deepening into black, and tipt with white ; the 

 outermost lateral feather white, and the 3 next broadly tipt with the 

 same color : the outermost feather, in the female ? with a shaded 

 dusky blotch. Iris dark hazel; the eyelids yellow. — In younghivds 

 the neck ring, and fore part of the head is dusky. Wing coverts 

 and scapulars edged very slightly with yellowish white. The tail 

 as in the adult. 



